Device for hanging and spacing packages which are presented on pegs, and packaging box equipped with this device

ABSTRACT

The device is composed of a perforated tab (1), provided with a spacing flange (2) transmitting the push force at the level of the peg (3). The packaging box is composed of a semi-rigid box-shaped case (4), provided with edge areas on which a heat-sealable plastic film (5) is fixed, this film (5) also being utilized for hot adhesive-bonding the perforated tab (1) to the upper edge area (4a) of the box-shaped case (4).

The invention relates to a device for hanging and spacing packages whichare presented on pegs, and to a packaging box equipped with this device.

In order to hang packages, it is known to utilize perforated tabs whichare sewn or adhesive-bonded to the upper portions of transparent bagscontaining products, or which are molded with the bag, or it is known toextend the product presentation cards upwards in instances where theproducts are covered with a film which is thermoformed and hotadhesive-bonded, or to have the cardboard cover adhesive-bonded to theedge of a box-shaped molded plastic case containing the products.

This method of hanging gives perfect results when the abovementionedpackages are presented on horizontal pegs, but the situation isdifferent when the pegs are inclined in order to bring about thecontinuous return of the packages towards the tip of the peg: by gravitywhen the pegs are inclined downwards, or under the action of a springwhen the pegs are horizontal or inclined upwards: the object being toobtain a continuous sales front, which makes it easier both to seekparticular products, and to grasp them.

In reality, the shape of these packages does not lend itself well to agood distribution of the push force which induces the return movement,and the result is that an unbalanced condition prevails, which manifestsitself thru the packages leaving the pegs in an untimely manner when thepush force is too high, which necessitates the voluntary limitation ofthe peg length, or voluntary abstention from loading the pegs fully.

As regards the packaging boxes which are currently in existence, thedesign of which has been mentioned above, these necessitate the use ofspecial and rather expensive molds in order to produce the box-shapedcase by thermoforming; a disadvantage which adds to the one alreadyindicated above.

Package-hanging and spacing devices corresponding to the preamble ofclaim 1 have already been disclosed, namely those described in U.S. Pat.Nos. 3,254,761 and 4,291,807, the former describing the hanging of apackage via a triangular-section tab obtained by expansion, the width ofits upper portion, forming the base of the triangle, equalling thepackage thickness, while the latter describes a package-hanging tabwhich is back-folded over a portion of its width.

These devices were designed with a view to achieving a definite spacingof packages presented on horizontal pegs, and they would thereforerequire special configuration in order to be presented on inclined pegs.

The object of the invention is to remedy this disadvantage. Thisinvention, as characterized in the claims, solves the problem implicitin achieving regular spacing of packages which, when presented on pegs,are continuously returned towards the tip of the peg, either by gravityor by means of a spring.

This device is composed of a perforated tab which is provided with aspacing flange, set in place at the level of the upper edge of theaperture thru which the peg passes, the peg itself forming part of thesales display facility. The packaging box is composed of a box-shapedcardboard case, provided with edge areas on which a heat-sealableplastic film is fixed, this film also being utilized for attaching theperforated tab to the upper edge area of the box-shaped cardboard case.

The length of the spacing flange exceeds the depth of the box-shapedcase, divided by the cosine of the inclination angle of the pegs fittedto the sales display facility. This flange is extended by a small tab,its width corresponding to the limb-spacing of the type of twin-limb pegfitted to the sales display facilities, but being amenable tomodification to suit other types.

In a preferred embodiment, the perforated tab and the spacing flange aremade in a single piece, by folding and gluing.

The box-shaped cardboard case is produced by cutting, folding, andglueing.

The folding both of the spacing flange and of the box-shaped case isfacilitated by pre-perforation along appropriate lines.

The upper and lower sides of the box-shaped case are joined to the othersides by means of glued tabs.

The perforated tab and the spacing flange are utilized asinformation-carrying areas, as are the back and sides.

The width of the box-shaped case, perforated tab and spacing flange canbe multiplied by the number of pegs necessary for presenting a largerquantity of products, or for presenting very long products, while theaperture thru which the peg passes and the small tab extending thespacing flange can be repeated in an analogous manner.

The invention provides advantages which, in essence, amount to the factthat the packages are subjected to a push force which is located on thepeg axis, at the level of the hanging tab, which eliminates any risk ofthe packages tilting and, in consequence, eliminates any risk of theleading packages coming off the peg, and of their being crushed underthe pressure as they are returned forwards, either by gravity or bymeans of a spring, and to the fact that the molded plastic parts havebeen superceded by a box-shaped case which is produced from a semi-rigidmaterial by cutting and folding, one such material being cardboard, andwhich is closed-off by means of a flexible transparent film, attached byhot adhesive-bonding.

The invention is explained in greater detail below, with the help of adrawing which represents a perspective view of packaging boxes which arearranged, in contact with each other, on a twin-limb peg which formspart of a sales display facility, this drawing representing only oneembodiment.

The FIGURE prepared from the drawing shows box-shaped cases, 4, whichare hung, by means of a tab 1, on the twin-limb peg 3, this peg 3 beinginclined downwards, at an angle α, the tab 1 being provided with anaperture 1a, and being attached to the upper edge area 4a of thebox-shaped case 4 by means of the heat-sealable plastic film, 5, whichis utilized to close-off the open front of the box-shaped case, andwhich is fixed to the edge areas of the said case by hotadhesive-bonding. The spacing is thus achieved by means of a flange 2,set in place at the level of the upper edge of the aperture 1a, thruwhich the peg passes, this flange 2 possessing a length which exceedsthe depth of the box-shaped case, divided by the cosine of theinclination angle of the pegs, and being extended by a small tab, 2a,which fits into the space between the limbs 3a and 3b of the twin-limbpeg 3 after having passed thru the aperture in the package situated justbehind, namely the aperture thru which the peg passes. The push forcefrom the package situated behind is thus retransmitted, by the spacingflange 2, to the package situated in front, at the level of the peg.

It will also be noticed, on the box-shaped case 4, that the upper andlower sides, 4b and 4c respectively, are joined to the vertical sides,4d and 4e, by means of glued tabs 4f.

What is claimed is:
 1. A device for suspending and spacing packages uponpegs comprising a box-shaped case, tab means extending from saidbox-shaped case, said tab means including an aperture for said peg uponwhich said package can be suspended, a spacing flange extending fromsaid tab means at a location above said aperture, and heat-sealableplastic film means defining the edge areas of said box-shaped case andattaching said tab means to said box-shaped case.
 2. The device of claim1 wherein said spacing flange has a predetermined length, and whereinsaid pegs are intended to be fitted to a sales display unit and extendtherefrom at a predetermined angle of inclination, and wherein saidbox-shaped case has a predetermined depth, said predetermined depth ofsaid box-shaped case divided by the cosine of said angle of inclinationsubstantially corresponding to the length of said spacing flange.
 3. Thedevice of claim 1 wherein said peg means has a predetermined widthsubstantially corresponding to the width of said aperture in said tabmeans, and wherein said spacing flange includes a tabular extensionadapted to enter the aperture in a adjacent package placed upon said pegmeans.
 4. The device of claim 1 wherein said tab means and said spacingflange are formed as a unitary construction.
 5. The device of claim 1wherein sid box-shaped case is prepared from a single sheet of material,cut, folded and glued to a predetermined configuration.
 6. The device ofclaim 5 wherein said box-shaped case is produced frpm a single sheet ofmaterial including predetermined perforation lines thereon.
 7. Thedevice of claim 6 wherein said single sheet of material includes tabmeans, whereby when said box-shaped case is folded said tab meansfacilitate gluing of said sides of said box-shaped case together.
 8. Thedevice of claim 1 wherein said tab means and said spacing flangecomprise information carrying areas, and wherein said box-shaped casecomprises information carrying areas.